Apparatus for handling successive sheet units for a subsequent impression operation thereon



March 4,1958 c. J. HEmooD 2,825,281

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SUCCESSIVE SHEET UNITS FOR A SUBSEQUENT IMPRESSION OPERATION THEREON Filed Apri1-28,' 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTYJ March 4, 1958 c. J. HEYWOOD 2,825,281

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SUCCESSIVE SHEET UNITS FOR A SUBSEQUENT IMPRESSION OPERATION THEREON Filed April 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United. States Patent APPARATUS FOR HANDLING SUCCESSIVE SHEET UNITS FOR;A SUBS EQUENTIM- PRESSION OPERATION THEREON Christopher John Heywood, London, England Application Apr-i128, ,1953, Serial No. 351,557

Claims 'priority application Great Britain May 2, '1952 6 Claims. :(Cl. 101-287) This invention is concerned -;with a method and apparatus for automatically feeding successive sheet units from a pile thereof to a machine adapted to starnpan impression thereon, the term sheet unit being employed herein to denote units of paper, cardboardor like material may be handled according to the invention are units known as 'multi-eo py' sets, *in which two -or;-more;sheets of paper arehel'd together --to form a unit by securing an edgeof each sheet to the corresponding edge of-an adjacent sheet by means of adhesive or other means.

The invention -'fin"ds particular application =to-the automatic feeding of -'Sh@lll1i'1ltS tO*a die stamping machine;

- particularly of the so-called invertet1"- type, wherein the sheet units are to be subjected to an embossing operation along one edge portion thereof. The-'inventionalso finds application in analogous --machines such as addressing machines.

' t is a primary object ofthe present invention toprovide a 'simplemethod and apparatus for automatically feeding.successivesheet-units from a piletthereof to an impression stamping machine of the character :hitherto fed manually by; an operator.

-l't isazseconri object oftthe invention .to providea method and :apparatus .of :feeding successive :sheetz-units from aipilethereof to ianimpression stamping machine, :the pile being made;up :of superposed:unitsvwhich:are

raised .alongionesedge e. -g.. ,by:reason;-of a previous :embossing :operation'in multhcolour die. stamping, so; that r all. individual units, in therrpjile do notlie .in a {horizontal plane cthus :complicating the ::operation :of ,automatically and successively ;.pic,king1 11p .the uppermost; sheet glllfljt of the pile and conveying itzito the impression istamping .Inachine.

'lt-is et a-Zt-hirdbbject of the inventionto provide a method and apparatus of feedingt successive; hee zun t from a pile .to: an irnpression stamping. machine; whereby the. sheet unit receivingzan impression is positively s ripped from the jawsof the stampingmachine.

t it 1's. a: fourth object of "the? invention: to; provide ;;an

improved, combination of 1a dieestamping: or-like machine 1 and feeding apparatus-adapted to -feed :sheet units. to such machine quite: automatically fromithe top ofsa pile :of

suchunits. I t is'a' fifth object-of the invention to provideta feeding apparatus which .is adapted to feed, to an 1 impression stamping .rnachine,.:.sheet. units fromithe top of; a pile thereof, such-feeding apparatusnbeing:arranged;.to;feed the sheet units tot-"the:s'tamping .-machine;in.a-number-of alternative directionsfrinvolving' at some stagein the ,-sequence-Of feeding sheet units to and re'm'oving .-.-such 1 units-drum" thestamping machine EBs ChaHgB-Of direction 2,825,281 Patented Mar-. 4, 195,8

2 of the sheet units; such change in direction leading to flexibility of operation and the ability to .employ simple means, such as suction feeders, of picking up .the uppermost sheet units from an inclined pile thereof.

Other Objects of the invention will appear from the description which follows and the claims appended to this specification. i

' ,A practical embodiment of the invention will now be d scr b with re e e c to the c pa y n dr win in which Figure 1 shows a general diagrammatic perspective yiew of a sheet feeding apparatus adapted to'work .in conjunction with'a conventional manually fed .inverted .type die ,starnping,machine,,in such viewonly thoseparts necessary to'an understanding of the invention being sh wn;

figure 2 shows a diagrammatic perspective view of .eertainof the moving parts of the apparatus of vl-ligure l and also shows ,the mode of Operation ofsuch parts in relation to the operation of the die stamping rnachine, and

Figure 3 ,shows a pileofsuperposed sheets forfeeding tothe apparatusdepictedin Figure l.

Referring now particularly to Figure 1, -the.apparatus therein shown consists of a sheetpick-up section A, a first belt conveyor section B, a second vbeltconveyor system Cand adie stamping .sectionD of which only the,essentialparts .are shown, namely/the male die and the force. 'In order-to ,give a general picture of the functioning ofthe various sections of the apparatus just referredto, itmay be mentioned that thepick-up section A attimed intervals picks up the uppermost sheet of a pile thereofand fee'dsto the belteonveyor sectionB at'theend of which the sheet is momentarilyvarrested and thereafter transferred with a change of direction to the ,belt conveyor sectionC. After the sheet has been transferred to belt conveyor system C it is conveyed thereby towards the die stamping section D and on arrival at thissection is halted to permit. of a die stampingpperation along.one edge thereof andis then moved on by the belt conveyor to some convenient region of collection.

Havingindicated in very general terms the various s ction Q th firea m S W in t s d i als feeders 1 terminating in suction heads Zand communicating with a common su ctionr pipe 3. Thesuction feeders 1 are mounted faston arodA supported byarmsSsaid arms beingrigi'dly secured toa rockable shaftifi,

.rod 4 beingfree to rotate aboutits own axis. Atone end of rod 4 is rigidly connected an upstandingQarrn 1'7 bearing at its end a cam followenS;workingflinlalcam track 9. As will be evidentfrom Figurezlrockingfof shaft,6 causes rod 4 to movein an' arc thereabout, a rotational movement-of rod .4 about its ownaxis being in addition imparted bythesaction ofthecamtrackfl onthe follower 8. {The means forrockingshaftll6is shown in Figure 2 from which itiwillbetseenthatlone end of shaft "6 is provided with a fixed armlt) bearin gr a cam follower 1 1' at its end,.such follower coasting with a cam-12 rotatedby a crank 13 and connecting rod 14, the crank-13-being mounted .on a camshaft l5 whichis intermittently rotated through one revolution.

In the operation of the" sheet pick-up sectionA, the suction feeders 1 move between the position shownin Figure 1 where the suction heads 2 are turned downwardly'and rest uponthe uppermost sheet (indicated in dotted lines) of-apile-thereof and the positions shown in Figure 2 in which the suction heads 2 havebeen swung upwardly-and turned:inwardly-towards-the conveyor belt section B. The upward and corresponding downward movement of the suction heads 2 is effected by the clockwise rotation of the cam 12, while the inward and corresponding outward movement is effected by the action of cam track 9 on follower 8 which causes rotation about its own axis of rod 4 while the suction heads are being moved upwardly or downwardly by cam 12. Thus, considering first the upward and downward movement of the suction heads 2, it will be seen from Figure 2 that, on clockwise rotation of cam 12, the follower 11 is released by the cut away segment of the cam whereupon arm 10 moves rapidly clockwise thereby rotating shaft 6 and moving rod 4 and the suction feeders thereon in a downward arc towards a pile of sheets therebelow, this downward movement being reversed when the follower 11 makes contact with the surface 16 of the cam 12 at which point the follower is gradually moved back in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 2. The inward and outward movement of the suction heads 2 accompanies the upward and downward movement just described, it being seen from Fig. 1 that when the suction heads are in their lowermost position and are about i to pick up the uppermost sheet, the cam follower 8 is in the depression of the cam track 9 and the rod 4 is at its limit of permissible counterclockwise rotation. On the other hand when the suction heads 2 are raised by cam 12, cam follower 8 rides up the cam track 9 causing clockwise rotation of rod 4 and a corresponding inward movement of the suction heads.

While no specific reference has been madein the preceding description to the supply of suction to pipe 3, it i will be appreciated that such suction is applied in timed relationship to the movement of the suction'heads 2. Thus suction is automatically applied when the suction heads are approaching the uppermost sheet to be picked up thereby, suction being maintained after the sheet has been picked up and the suction heads 2 raised and turned inwardly to present the leading edge of the sheet shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 to the nip between a pair of driven transfer rollers 17, 17. which constitute the input to the conveyor belt section B. After presentation of the leading edge of the sheet to the transfer rollers 17, 17' and on engagement thereof between the rollers, the suction is automatically cut off to permit the sheet to pass through the rollers. The application of suction to and its removal from pipe 3 at the correct moment inthe cycle of. movement of the suction heads 2 may be readily accomplished by a simple air valve actuated by a cam on cam shaft 15,'such parts being omitted from the drawings in the interest of simplicity.

The sheet pick-up section A operates to pick up sheets from a pile thereof supported on a vertically movable platform, such pile and platform being shown in Figure 3 m which numeral 18 indicates apile of sheets already embossed along one edge portion 19 so that the indie vidual sheets in the pile are inclined to the horizontal and in which numeral 20 indicates a platform mounted on a pillar 21 which is adjustable vertically by a lifting mechanism 22 of conventional type. The level of the uppermost sheet of the pile 18 may be maintained automatically constant within such limits as do not affect the efficient lifting of the uppermost sheet by the suction heads 2 by any conventional mechanism, :although it is preferred to achieve this by the provision of an arm (not shown) pivoted to a fixed member with its free end resting upon the uppermost sheet, which arm operates a. switch when its free end has descended a predetermined and adjustable distance. Operation of the switch then closes an. electric circuit. whereby ratchet means (not shown) in liftingmechanism 22 are set in motion to raise the platform to bring the uppermost sheet thereon on the required level, thus raising the free end of the arm and opening the switch when the desired level has been reached.

The belt conveyor section B comprises essentially the transfer rollers 17, 17' already referred to, a fixed table 23 and three endless driven conveyor belts 24 which run over the surface of the table 23. In addition there are provided three flexible polished metal strips 25 attached at one end to a transversely extending rod 26, the free ends of such strips overlying the belts 24. At the end of the fixed table 23 remote from the transfer rollers 17, 17 are arranged adjustable stops 27 mounted on a transverse bar 28 supported at one end by a movable leg 29 slidable over the surface of the table 23 and supported at the other end by a bracket30 slidable along an upstanding flange 31 fixed to table 23, bracket 30 being clampable in any desired position on flange 31 by means of wing nut 32. Transverse bar 28 also carries a curved flexiblerelectrically conducting metal strip 33 whose free end is. permitted to make contact with an electrically conducting surface 34 on the table 23. The strip 33 and surface 34 together constitute a safety de vice whose function will be described in more detail later. The endless belts'24 are supported at one end by a shaft 35 carrying pulleys (Figure .2) and at the other end by an idling roller 36 (Figure 1). Shaft and pulleys 35 and transfer rollers 17. 17, as will be evident from Figure 2, are driven from an electric motor 37 through a chain driven system indicated generally by reference numeral 38, so that belts 24 are continuously driven when the machine is in use.

In the operation of the belt conveyor system B, the transfer rollers 17, 17' receive the leading edge of a sheet each time the suction heads 2 are raised and moved inwardly, and the sheet thus engaged in the nip between the transfer rollers is passed through the rollers onto the moving conveyor belts 24 by which it is conveyed under the strips 25 to the end of the table where it is arrested by stops 27. A sheet thus arrestedis shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 and is indicated by reference numeral 39. The function of the polished strips 25 overlying the con veyor belts 24 is. to press a sheet conveyed by the belts into contact with the latter so as to avoid slippage. A sheet arrested bystops 27 is thereafter passed to belt conveyor section C which will now be described.

Belt conveyor section C comprises a fixed table 40 level with but readily detachable from adjacent fixed table 23, a pair of endless conveyor belts 41,41 which run over the surface of the table, and means: for. transferring a sheet from belt conveyor section B, such means consisting in a pair of rockable rollers 42 mounted on table 40 and a pair of cooperating driven rollers 43 mounted on table 23. To facilitate bringing together these rollers to grip the side or lateral edge of a sheet unit which has been brought to rest at the end of its travel on the table 23, by the stops 27, the table 23 has the openings or recesses 43a therein through which the rollers meet. In addition belt conveyor section C includes a rockable stop 44, a transversely movable lay bar 45 and means for pressing a sheet conveyed by the belts 41, 41 into contact therewith comprising pivotally mounted rollers 46 and 47. a flexible polished metal strip 49 with weights 50 resting thereon. Conveyor belts 41, 41' are supported at one end by rollers 51, 51 (Figure 2) which are mounted on a shaft 52 which is driven from motor 37 through chain drive system 38 and a gear system 53. Belts 41, 41' are supported at their other ends on an idling roller (not shown) which is situated at the delivery end of the conveyor belt system C indicated by numeral 54. Driven rollers 43 which effect the transfer of a sheet from conveyor belt section Bare mounted on a shaft 55 which is rotated by gear system 53 from the motor 37. The driven rollers 43 act in conjunction with the upper rockable rollers 42 which are mounted on arms 56 rigidly secured to transverse rockable rod 57,.such rod 57 being provided with projecting finger 58 secured thereto. Coacting with finger 58 is another finger 59 at right angles thereto which is secured to a further rockable rod 60 supported in brackets 61, 61' mounted on table 40, such rod heather Behaving a ocking 'r'no'tion int-parish thereto by a link mechanism 62 and a cam 63 on cam shaft 15. It will thus be seen that rotation of cam shaft 15 through one revolution causes the roc'kable rollers 42 to move downwardly towards the lower rollers 43 and then to be raised upwardly a ain. Transverse ro'ckable rod 57 also carries roller 46, which is freely pivotably connected to the red by 'means of an arm 64, and the polished metal strip 49 which is connected at its end to -'a block 65 which is free :to rotate about the rod; thus the rocking motion imparted to rod 57 causes no movement of either the roller 46 or the strip '49. Rockable rod 60 f belt conveyor set:- as C apart from operating transverse rockable rod 57 as described above also operates in a precisely analogous *r'iiahne'r two further transverse rockable rods 66, 67,

'v'i hich -have, respectively, extending fingers 68, 69 'en- "gag'e'able with a finger 70 on r0660. Transverse rod 66 'a't its free end an arm '71 se'curedthereto and pro- 'vided at its endwith roller 47 which may be brought'to press down upon belt 41 when rod 66 is rocked; also carit'e'd by rod 66 are weights 50 which are pivotally'mount- 'ed thereon, such weights exerting pressure on strip "49 overlying belt 41. Transverse rod 67 carries at its free end s'top44 which is rigidly secured thereto so that rockingofthe 'rod'67 raises and lowers thestop out of'and iin'to the path of a sheet carried by belts 41, 41'. Rod 67 may, and preferably will be adjustably mounted on table '40so that the stop 44 carried 'thereby'may be adfjufs'te'd any desired position along the length of "the table. The transversely movable lay bar 45 previously referred to is connected atone end to a link mechanism 74 which imparts the requisite movement to the bar '45 b" "inean's'of a cam 75'on cam shaft 15, one revolutionof 'reeipr'ocates the lay bar. At its free'end the lay par' tse'arriesa pusher plate 76' whose lowerend is adjacentlthetop'surfaces of the table 40. As shownin Figlur'e'Lthepusher plate 76' maybe made adjustable along the leng'th of the lay bar 45 by means of adjusting screws 77'.

In theoperation of belt conveyor sectionC, a'stationarysh'eet at the end of belt'conveyor section B as shown in'Figure l is'rapidly transferred to belts 41, 41' by the downward movement of rockable'roller's 42 which'pre'ss the edge'portion of the'sheet against driven rollers 43 g iwhichtheretipon .grip the sheet and convey itonto "belts 41, 41. This transfer of "a sheetfrom'belt eonvey'orsection B to section '0 occurs once every revolution ofth'e cam shaft and hence occurs eachtime' ash'e'etis picked up and fed -into-conveyor-section -B. After transfer to bel ts 41,41, the sheet which is held in contact with the belts by strip 49 and roller 46, is moved along until its tfavelis arrested by movement downwardly of stop 44 at whichpoint the sheet is inthe correct ,position along "thelength-of table for "a die stamping operation, roller 1 "'44 and lay bar 45,the die stamping operation is :per-

- formed-as will be more fully-described later and on the completion of such operation stop 44 is raised and roller '47- lowered to press the sheet against the belts '41, 41' so that it-is urged forward again to the deliveryend 54 of i conveyorsection C.

"It now remains to describe in brief terms the die stampirigseetionD and its relation to the other moving parts "of theapparatus already described. Only those parts of "the die stamping section which are germane to the inventio'n are shown in the drawings and these parts consist essentially of a lower block or force 76"which is recip- "rocable in a vertical direction against a die 77 which gives impression and which is' movablebackwards' away 75 moving the die 77 and 'force' 76 are shown diagrammatically in Figure 2, from which it will be :seen that the force 76 is reciprocated vertically by a rod 78 working in conjunction with a mechanism 78' later i-referred to, rod 78 being operated by a cam 79 on a cam shaft 80, while the die 77 is moved substantially horizontally towards and away from the force by means of a cam following lever system 81 pivoted about 82 and operated by a cam 83 on cam shaft 80, aslight downward movement being imparted tothe die :77 when it is brought into position above the force and a corresponding upward movement when it is being Withdrawn from 'a position above the force. This slight vertical movement of the die '77 is to permit of a sheet "to be inserted and withdrawnfrom between the die and the :force which :meet at the level of table 40. Mounted :in front of the die 77 and force '76 are two vertically 'reciprocable rods '84 which carry pads 85 on their lower ends for'the purpose of clamping asheet'to the Ifixed .t-ab1e'40 of the belt conveyor system C, a movement of the' rods being effected by-a cam following lever system 86'pivoted'about 87 and operated by a cam '88 on cam shaft 80. Cam shaft carries a further cam 89 which operates, once every revolution of cam shaft 80, to close the contacts of 'a switch "90, such contacts being operatively connected to 'a-clutch driving mechanism 91 connecting cam :shaft '15 with the chain drivensystem 38 of the 'sheet feeding portion of the apparatus. This clutc'hdriving mechanism 91, which may be of any known constructiomis adapted on closureofthe contacts of switch'90 to cause cam shaft =15to make onerevolution. Thus eachdiestamp'ing operation performed ona sheet by the die 77 and force 716 (which corresponds to one revolution of cam shaft 80) causes one revolution of cam shaft 15 of the sheetfeeding portion of the apparatus and thereby effects ithe vsynchronised pick-up and conveying of sheets from a pile thereof to'the die stamping-section D.

Considering now the operation of the die stampingsection D in relation to the belt conveyor section C, the various moving parts of the apparatus are so synchronised that as the force 76 is moving up against the' die"77:a sheet is in position on fixed table 40 with the edge bordering portion thereof to be embossed overlying the force 76, the sheet being accurately placed and maintained 'inthis position by movement of the stop 44 and lay bar-45 notwithstanding that belts 41, '41 are continuously'in motion. The table'40has therein the side recess or.opening 40a through which the stamping members 76 and 77 .or'ithe force 76 and die 77 meet in the stamping orembossing operation. It will 'also'be seen from the dotted outline 'ofthe sheet unit on table 40 that when'the sheet unitis shifted laterally on the latter table and brought torest against the stop 44-, the edge bordering portion whichristo "receive the embossment will overlie this opening 40aand be disposed in a plane passing between themembers 76 and 77.. Just-prior to the movement upwardly of the force 76 against the die 77, the sheetbeing interposed therebetween, rods '84 are moved downwardly so that the pads thereon press and hold the sheetagainstzthe fixed table 49. Thereafter the die 77 and force 76 are'pressed together to emboss the sheet and the force 76 is-moved downwardly, the'pads 85 still holding thesheet against the fixed table 40 whereby it is positively strippe'd 'from the movingparts of the die stampingsection D. #After such stripping action, the pads 85 are caused to risewith the rods 84, the stop 44 is raised'and the roller 47 is lowered to press the sheet into contact with the 'belt 41 whereby the sheet is urged rapidly forwardtowards the delivery end 54 of belt conveyor section C whereit is collected in any conventional manner.

While the functioning, as a whole, of the'apparatus depicted in the drawings should be readily apparent from the foregoing description, for the sake ofclarity the com- 4pirate sequence of operations performed by. the apparatus will now be shortly described. Firstly, in timed relationship with the operation of die stamping section D, the suction heads 2 pick up the uppermost sheet from a pile thereof as shown in Figure 3 and present the leading edge of such sheet to the transfer rollers 17, 17' which convey the sheet onto the endless continuously rotating belts 24 between the belts and the overlying strips 25. Belts 24 quickly convey the sheet to the end of fixed table 23 whereat the sheet is arrested by stops 27, the position of such stops being adjusted to suit the size of sheet being handled so that the latter maybe correctly positioned with respect to belt conveyor section C and the die stamping section D. After the sheet has been arrested by stops 27, the elevated rockable rollers 42 will descend to press the sheet against continuously driven lower rollers 43 whereby the sheet is urged at right angles on to belts 41, 41, .of beltxconveyor section C. On arrival in a position overlying the force 76, which at this point is below the level of table 40, stop 44 descends into the path of travel of the sheet toarrest its movement, lay bar .45 is urged inwardly against the edge of the sheet to urge momentarily the latter in towards the force 76, the lay bar being then withdrawn. When the sheet is correctly positioned in relation to the force 76 and die 77 and rods 84 descend and the pads 85 thereon positively clamp the sheet to the table 40, Whereafter the force and die come together to die stampthe sheet along the adjacent edge bordering portion thereof. After the die stamping operation and the movement apart of force 76 and die 77, pads 85 are raised (having by this time stripped the sheet from the die and force), the stop 44 is raised and roller 47 lowered to press the sheet against the moving belt41 so that the sheet is conveyed towards the delivery end 54 of table 40. The timing of the apparatus is so arranged that when a sheet is being subjected to a die stamping operation, a subsequent sheet is in a stationary position at the end of table 23 of belt conveyor section B waiting to be transferred to belt conveyor section C in themanner described, such timing being controlled in accordance with the movement of the force 76 and die 77 by means of cam shaft 80, switch 90, clutch driving mechanism 91 and cam shaft 15.

In order to guard against the possibility of the die 77 and force 76 coming together with no sheet therebetween whereby the force would be fouled with ink from the die, a safety device is provided on fixed table 23 of belt conveyor section B. As referred to briefly before, this safety device consists of a curved electrically conducting strip' 33 which, in the absence of a sheet arrested at the end. of table 23, makes contact with electrically conducting surface 34. As shown in Figure 2, strip 33 and surface 34 form part of an electrical circuit with the contacts 92, 93 of a switch 94, such circuit when closed serving to operate the mechanism '78" with rod 78 which drives the force 76. The mechanism 78 shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2 acts to limit the upward movement of the force 76, a similar mechanism being provided in practically all conventional die stamping and printing machines to take the impression off the dies at the will of the operator. Usually such mechanism is treadle operated. The switch 94 is operated simultaneously with switch 90 by the rise on cam 87 on shaft 80. Thus when switch 90 is closed to actuate clutch mechanism 91 thereby starting in motion the sheet feeding portion of the apparatus, switch 94 is also closed and if this time there is no paper between strip 33 and surface 34 the electrical circuit associated therewith will be closed thereby actuating mechanism 78 which takes the impression off the dies, i. e. prevents the die 77 and force 76 from coming completely together.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the invention provides a very simple method and apparatus for automatically feeding successive sheet units from the top of a pile thereof. In particular it should be noted that the change of direction imparted to each associated -stamper from the front.

sheet, permits of the picking up of sheets along a horizontal edge portion althoughjthe individual sheets in the pile are inclined to the horizontal. Thus, if a sheet from a pile thereof previously embossed along one edge portion were fed straight in sideways to a die stamping machine for a second embossing operation along the same edge it would be necessary to pick up each sheet along an adjacent side edge portion which owing to the previous embossing operation would be inclined to the hori- Zontal (as shown in Figure 3, the edge portion in question being identified by numeral 95) and would therefore complicate the means for sheet pick up since the inclination of each sheet to the horizontal would progressively vary as the pile decreased in height. The change of direction provided by the invention, however, permits the sheet to be picked up, by a very simple mechanism, along an embossed edge portion (or a diametrically oppo site edge portion) and presented to a die stamping machine correctly orientated for a second embossing operation along the same edge portion. Instead of changing the direction of each sheet fed to the die stamping machine through a right angle as is the case with the embodiment described, such change of direction can be imparted in other ways, e. g. after the die stamping operation. Thus in the embodiment described, belt conveyor section B may be arranged to feed into the front of die stamping section D and belt conveyorsection C may then be arranged to remove the sheets from the die stamper either from the left or right thereof. Alternatively, belt conveyor section B may be arranged to feed into the side of the die stamping section D and the belt con veyor section arranged to remove sheets from the die However, the arrangement illustrated is preferred because it permits of easy access to the die stamper, by removal of belt conveyor section C, this being readily achieved in the embodiment illustrated because it is merely necessary to disengage the gear on shaft 52 from the gear system 53 and to lift off the link systems 62 and 74 from the cams 63 and 75 on cam shaft15. In fact in a practical embodiment of the apparatus illustrated, belt conveyor section C may be removed from belt conveyor section B by simply loosening one wing nut.

It will be clear that various modifications may be made to the apparatus heretofore described. Thus conveyor means other than belts can be employed, e. g. movable suction feeders arranged to transport successive sheets from one predetermined position to another.

I claim:

1. In the art of die stamping wherein relatively movable stamping members function to stamp or emboss sheet units, apparatus for moving sheet, units to and orienting the same to proper position relative to said members comprising a pair of adjoining coplanar table surfaces, said stamping members being positioned for operation adjacent to one side of one table surface, means extending across the other table surface forming a stop, a first sheet unit conveying means for advancing a sheet unit from a source along said other table surface into edge engagement with said stop, a second sheet unit conveying means, said second means being carried by said one table surface for moving a unit away from the other surface in a plane passing between the stamping members, relatively movable sheet unit gripping and driving elements located between the first and second conveying means for gripping an edge of a sheet unit in edge abutment with the stop and moving it into operative connection with the second conveying means, and means for checking movement of a sheet unit along the second table surface at a location in which a portion of the unit bordering said edge is disposed between the stamping members for receiving embossment by said members.

2. In the art of die stamping, stamping means embodying relatively movable stamping members, means for actuating the members, ,a first table, a second table lying adjacent to and in the plane of the first, means associated with the first table for moving therealong a sheet unit to be embossed along a portion bordering the advancing edge of the sheet unit, a stop means disposed across the first table in position to be engaged by said advancing edge of the sheet unit to stop the unit with the said edge and bordering portion in a predetermined aligned relation to the stamping members, means at the adjoining sides of the tables for gripping a lateral edge of a sheet unit when the unit is engaging the stop means and starting movement of the unit onto the second table toward the stamping means, means for taking the sheet unit from the gripping means and moving it along the second table in a plane passing between the stamping members, means for stop ping movement of the sheet unit on the second table with said edge bordering portion between the stamping members, and means for engaging the edge of the sheet unit remote from the stamping means and moving it to final position between the stamping members in position to be stamped.

3. The invention according to claim 2, with mechanism operating to bring the stamping members together when the sheet unit is in said final position, and mechanism operating in timed sequence with the first mechanism for stopping the said movement of the sheet on the second table and for clamping the sheet on the second table and holding the sheet unit until the clamping members have separated.

4. The invention according to claim 2, with mechanism operating to bring the stamping members together when the sheet unit is in final position therebetween, electrical means for controlling the stamping movement of the stamping members and which when energized prevents the members from coming together, and means controlling energization of said electrical means comprising a contact plate in the plane of the tables in position to have a portion of the sheet unit lie thereover when stopped by the first stop and a yieldable contact for engaging said plate and between which and the plate the sheet unit moves to prevent energization of the electrical means.

5. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the second table has an opening through which the die members meet during a stamping operation and over which opening the said edge bordering portion of the sheet unit lies in said final position of the unit.

6. The invention according to claim 2, wherein the first stop is aligned across the path of movement of the sheet unit on the first table with the stamping means, and means for adjusting the position of the first stop in the direction of the path of movement of the sheet unit on the first table.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 716,586 Shepherd Dec. 23, 1902 1,295,123 Cheshire Feb. 25, 1919 1,584,446 Frauenberger May 11, 1926 1,717,231 Krell June 11, 1929 1,941,663 Curtis Jan. 2, 1934 1,980,725 Hartley Nov. 13, 1934 2,558,685 Honig June 26, 1951 2,629,590 Smith Feb. 24, 1953 2,665,633 Schubert Jan. 12, 1954 

